Orkney Roc

As part of my research for my Skua/Roc book, I had some radio programmes copied from Orkney Library archive tapes. On one of these, there was an interview with a wreck diver who had apparently discovered a Blackburn Roc in quite good condition somewhere off the coast of Orkney. The location was kept secret to hide it from the souvenir hunters, but it was apparently quite accessible and there was talk of raising it. The radio interview was from 1987 and to my knowledge, nothing has happened since. I would be overjoyed to be proved wrong, however, and if anyone knows anything more about this discovery I’d be delighted to hear about it!

Thanks for these. Imagine my surprise when I saw my avatar Bucc flying overhead, landing and being taken down the lift! A week ago I’d never seen a photo of 923 in her original all white scheme – now I’ve seen several (in the new Aeroguide Bucc S1 book) and even a piece of film. Cheers!!!!

Nice to see the rarer S1 and NA39 (prototype/pre-production) footage.

Have spoken to a number of very brave men, some of whom shot down enemy aircraft, others did not. Most of the stories I have heard are not exactly boys’ own stuff. There is a lot of survivors’ guilt, a lot of terror, sometimes anger and every so often some brief, incandescent moments of excitement. The best stories are a Telegraphist Air Gunner in a Blackburn Skua who during a dive bombing run saw what looked like pieces of straw flying past his window and felt a sudden sense of outrage that someone was actually shooting at him! Another involves a Skua pilot on no-doubt dull Fleet Requirements duties that flew his aircraft under two bridges in succession. Most of the stories that involve combat are terrifying to listen to and I can’t begin to imagine what they were like to experience. Possibly the most common thread running through many of the people I have spoken to who flew in combat is that they are dead against being called heroes.

We can also take some comfort from a statement made on the tvoc site, where it is stated that they have raised more by public subscription than anything else that isnt a hospital or similar. That shows a good level of support, not just for the Vulcan, but hopefully for other aviation projects in the future.

Well said, and well done to all those who put hand in pocket.

I hope the project succeeds. I am a big fan of 558 and I’d like little better than to see her flying again. In my opinion, VTTS has already worked miracles and has found a great deal of money that otherwise would not have been available to the preservation movement, so well done again to all who have helped.

This is me, standing up to be counted. That’s all.

What a shame, I thoroughly enjoyed this show last year and was looking forward to this year’s event. I will support the Aerojumble and keep my fingers crossed for 2008.

Good luck to the organisers. As far as I was concerned they put on a wonderful show in 2006 and long may they continue to do so.

Not sure, but Supermarine Attackers had an identically shaped device under the nose.

Perhaps it should be renamed ‘Flying Myths’ considering all the (mostly outlandish) speculation.

ITV news will be doing an interview today with 1st Black Buck pilot (ok fires the jokes off guys & gals I cant remember his name D’oh) from Stanley. Today is the day, 1st May……….blimey has it really been 25 years.
Bex

Martin Withers I believe